The Artist:
Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun knew and painted the portraits of just about every prominent figure in Europe and Russia from approximately 1770 to 1835.

As a Royalist, Vigée Le Brun fled France at the outset of the revolution. She lived in exile for 12 years traveling across Europe while increasing her fame and fortune. During her travels she became a member of the Academies of Florence, Rome, Bologna, St Petersburg and Berlin. Vigée Le Brun was one of the most in demand portrait artists of her time. She completed over 900 paintings including 700 portraits.